Injuries have taken their toll on Ngata over the past three seasons. The 33-year-old hasn’t played a full 16-game season since 2011 and has missed at least two games in each of the last three seasons.

Ngata’s performance has suffered as a result of age and missed time. According to Pro Football Focus, his 5.9 run-stop percentage in 2016 was the second-worst rate of his career. He tallied seven combined tackles and two sacks in five games this year.

With Ngata on the shelf for the rest of the 2017 campaign, the Lions will turn to their depth at defensive tackle to keep their front four going strong.

A’Shawn Robinson showed promise with two sacks and seven passes defensed in 16 games as a rookie in 2016. Jeremiah Ledbetter and Akeem Spence will also see their roles expanded.